Sylvester Williams | Defensive Tackle

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Williams (6-3, 313) transferred from JUCO to play two years with the Tar Heels, starting all 25 games of his career. He logged 13.5 tackles for loss and six sacks as a senior. Described as a "hard hat, lunch-pail guy" by NFL.com's Bucky Brooks, Williams shows great burst off the line on tape. He ran a 5.03 forty at the Combine with a 1.72 ten-yard split and 30 reps on the bench. Williams will slide right in as a rotational tackle along with Kevin Vickerson and Terrance Knighton. It's a nice value pick at a position of need for the Broncos. Thu, Apr 25, 2013 11:23:00 PM

"This assumes Kenny Vaccaro does not slide to the 18th pick of the draft as the Cowboys are very high on the Texas safety," Pauline writes. We think the Cowboys would draft either guard or Sheldon Richardson over Williams, but that is only a guess. Wed, Apr 24, 2013 09:26:00 AM

This means Williams checks in as the fourth defensive tackle on the board. "Williams wasn't 100 percent healthy during the 2012 season but he battled through it," Jeremiah writes. "He is a versatile player with strong hands and excellent first-step quickness. Three years down the road, he could end up being the top defensive tackle in this draft class." Thu, Apr 18, 2013 01:30:00 PM

Williams is one of 15 players Brooks listed in the category, which is defined as "players dominated the college competition, for the most part, while exhibiting the traits that traditionally translate into long-term success at the NFL level." Williams has a good motor and ability to push the pocket but we found him to be inconsistent in finishing plays. He's been mentioned as a possible first-round pick in the past. Tue, Apr 16, 2013 04:23:00 PM

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"This assumes Kenny Vaccaro does not slide to the 18th pick of the draft as the Cowboys are very high on the Texas safety," Pauline writes. We think the Cowboys would draft either guard or Sheldon Richardson over Williams, but that is only a guess.

This means Williams checks in as the fourth defensive tackle on the board. "Williams wasn't 100 percent healthy during the 2012 season but he battled through it," Jeremiah writes. "He is a versatile player with strong hands and excellent first-step quickness. Three years down the road, he could end up being the top defensive tackle in this draft class."

Williams is one of 15 players Brooks listed in the category, which is defined as "players dominated the college competition, for the most part, while exhibiting the traits that traditionally translate into long-term success at the NFL level." Williams has a good motor and ability to push the pocket but we found him to be inconsistent in finishing plays. He's been mentioned as a possible first-round pick in the past.

National Football Post's Russ Lande writes UNC DT Sylvester Williams is underrated and could go in the top 15.

"Even though many are sure that Sharrif Floyd and Star Lotulelei will be the first two DT’s drafted, we think Williams should be in consideration to be the first one selected," Lande wrote. "And we are not alone as more than one NFL team has told us that they have Star and Williams pretty much tied atop the DT rankings on their respective team’s draft boards, so do not be shocked when he ends up as a top fifteen selection despite being discussed primarily as a second or third round selection."

Draft insider Tony Pauline expects the Panthers to select a DT in the top three rounds.

Pauline notes the Panthers hosted Sylvester Williams for a visit and worked out Akeem Spence. The team also had dinner with Datone Jones, but the UCLA product fits as both an edge rusher and interior penetrator. The Panthers do not hold a third-round pick, so they might look to add one by trading down.

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks has moved UNC's Sylvester Williams up 10 spots in his latest big board, with the DT now sitting at No. 18.

"There is a lot to like about Williams' game in terms of production and potential," Brooks writes. "He is not only a 'hard hat and lunch pail guy' with a high motor, but scouts raved about his athleticism and work ethic following UNC's Pro Day." We love Williams' initial jump off the line of scrimmage to disrupt, but he fails to finish plays.

The Jaguars sent a 'brain trust' to watch and interview UNC DT Sylvester Williams, according draft insider Tony Pauline.

The group reportedly spent Monday evening with Williams. There's a lot to like about the interior defensive lineman, specifically the jump he gets off the line of scrimmage which causes instant disruption. However, Sly fails to finish off plays far too often. He might not show up a lot on the stat sheet, but Williams could make an impact as a three technique.

National Football Post's Russ Lande writes that some teams have North Carolina DT Sylvester Williams ahead of Florida DT Sharrif Floyd.

"An extremely gifted athlete with rare playing strength, competitiveness and initial quickness, Williams is viewed as one of the most versatile defensive linemen in the 2013 Draft," Lande writes. "Teams are impressed with Williams’ ability to be a dominating player from any defensive alignment and are constantly impressed by his hustle to chase down plays that few defensive tackles make the effort to try to." This is certainly surprising news.

Williams is the second ranked defensive tackle behind Star Lotulelei, who sits at No. 4. Sheldon Richardson, Jesse Williams, and Sharrif Floyd round at the top five players at the position. We like Williams' quickness off the snap and ability to initially penetrate, but he fails to finish plays.

UNC's Sylvester Williams is listed as Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay's second best DT in his updated big board.

"Williams' standout showing at the Senior Bowl backed up a strong regular season, when he played faster than ever after shedding weight and getting fully healthy," McShay writes. The hefty defensive tackle checks in at No.11, two spots ahead of Florida's Sharrif Floyd and seven spots ahead of Missouri's Sheldon Richardson.

McShay says Williams displayed "good first-step quickness and the consistent ability to strike and press blockers into their own backfield." He notes that the senior needs cut back on attempted swim moves, but the weight loss from over the summer has helped Williams' quick feet. Some, like Scouts Inc. for example, love Williams' future while we question if he is more than a day two selection. He is the 13th overall prospect on Scouts Inc.'s board.

Muench cites Williams' explosive first step to disrupt the backfield and violent hands to shed blocks. The senior did lose weight over the summer, so he may not have the size to compete at nose tackle, but Muench is very high on Williams as a three technique interior defensive lineman and lists him as the second best draft-eligible player at the position.

Weidl says Williams "plays with good leverage and heavy hands" consistently displaying the ability to get into blockers quickly and then disengage to make plays, even adding that the senior "is clearly in the uppermost tier of the defensive tackle class at this point." We aren't as high on Williams, possibly due to the scheme (or lack there of) he runs at UNC, with no responsibility of gap assignments.

Lande points out that Williams, who transferred to UNC before the 2011 season, only played one year of high school football prior to attending a junior college, so his experience is not at the same level of other prospects. According to Lande, Williams has "better than expected instincts" along with the tools to be a high-end starter, and projects the senior as a first-round pick.